Small business leaders in the North East have welcomed plans to overhaul parking policies.

Of the firms surveyed by the Federation of Small Businesses, more than half said they were unhappy with parking arrangements.

The UK's biggest business organisation wants the Government and councils to review their parking facilities and prices to stimulate growth in the high street rather than strangle it.

John Wright, FSB North East policy chairman, said: "Local shops face an uphill battle against supermarkets and out of town shopping centres. Parking is free out of town but high street retailers are hit hard by restrictive parking policies from local councils.

"It is vital there is greater awareness of the problems small shop keepers and retailers face as they often cannot compete with supermarkets, in part because parking policies."